Nia Blue Belt Training

About the Nia Blue Belt

Blue Belt, the second level of Nia education, explores how to create healthy relationships through body-centered communication. This intensive introduces the next set of 13 Nia principles, which focus on the mental, emotional and spiritual realms of the body. While the White Belt curriculum focuses entirely on awareness of physical sensation, Blue Belt applies these skills to explore internal sensations as perceived through – but distinct from – physical sensations in the body.Blue

Blue Belt, the second level of Nia education, explores how to create healthy relationships through body-centered communication. This intensive introduces the next set of 13 Nia principles, which focus on the mental, emotional and spiritual realms of the body. While the White Belt curriculum focuses entirely on awareness of physical sensation, Blue Belt applies these skills to explore internal sensations as perceived through – but distinct from – physical sensations in the body.

Blue Belt Principle #1: The Joy of Being in Relationship, integrates the sensation of Joy with the awareness that Joy is something outside the self, which we can invite into our physical experience. As a result, we begin to deepen our ability to listen with clarity and sustain awareness of details outside our body.

Meet the Trainers

I began teaching in the fitness industry in 1981. I had a passion for exercise, and teaching aquatics courses, water exercise and aerobics filled that passion. These traditional fitness practices and my unconscious movement patterning ultimately led me to exhaustion, burnout, and physical pain. In 1984, I severely injured both my knees. I had numbed myself to my body’s voice of pain and I required surgery.
In July of 1991, I was on the edge of quitting teaching. I attended the I

I began teaching in the fitness industry in 1981. I had a passion for exercise, and teaching aquatics courses, water exercise and aerobics filled that passion. These traditional fitness practices and my unconscious movement patterning ultimately led me to exhaustion, burnout, and physical pain. In 1984, I severely injured both my knees. I had numbed myself to my body’s voice of pain and I required surgery.

In July of 1991, I was on the edge of quitting teaching. I attended the IDEA Fitness Conference and I saw a sign that read, “Body, Mind, Spirit Workout.” I had not seen the word ‘spirit’ used in any other courses offered. Immediately, my curiosity drew me to take the workshop. It was a Nia workshop, and I clearly recall watching Debbie and Carlos enter the room. Every cell of my being recognized their radiance. They took the stage and did something unheard of at that time in the fitness industry – they invited us to take off our shoes. Those first barefoot seconds of conscious movement had my wounded knees saying, “Ahhhhhhh” as they experienced healing through movement. After tearfully dancing a profound healing awakening, I registered for their next White Belt Intensive. I sensed a deep knowing within myself that Nia had much to teach me. I eagerly attended the Blue, Brown, Black, and First Degree Black Belt trainings in succession.

In February of 1997, after years of practicing Nia and many hours of teaching, I was blessed with the honor of becoming a Nia Trainer. Words cannot express the infinite gifts my heart receives from the privilege of sharing the Nia Belts. I travel internationally teaching Nia, and I am passionately in love with what I am privileged to share. I sing professionally. I am a motivational keynote speaker, and a yoga teacher. On February 14, 2009, I opened Heartdance Studio - a magical space. The teachings of Nia have brought me my ability to balance all I am passionate about, and I am so very grateful.

My passion is movement. I took two Nia classes at a Spa in California, USA in 1991 and knew instantly that Nia was something I would do for the rest of my life. My degree is in dance and I was dancing professionally in New York City. I felt that with Nia I had found the secret to keeping myself in shape and the tools to teach dancers and non-dancers how to find fitness, freedom, and joy in movement. I am a Nia Teacher and Trainer, a certified personal trainer, certified yoga instructor, Gabri

My passion is movement. I took two Nia classes at a Spa in California, USA in 1991 and knew instantly that Nia was something I would do for the rest of my life. My degree is in dance and I was dancing professionally in New York City. I felt that with Nia I had found the secret to keeping myself in shape and the tools to teach dancers and non-dancers how to find fitness, freedom, and joy in movement. I am a Nia Teacher and Trainer, a certified personal trainer, certified yoga instructor, Gabrielle Roth 5 Rhythms instructor, and creative movement specialist for kids. I design Nia programs for people with Parkinson's disease and cancer and for schools and health clubs. I also design Corporate Wellness programs. My main focus as a teacher/trainer is to deliver Nia in a way that is fresh, creative and deeply rooted in joy. It is very satisfying to watch someone discover how to move his/her body in a way that is healing, expressive, and unique. The creativity of Nia is what keeps my passion for it alive. I am based in New York City and travel with Nia wherever I am called to teach/train. Come dance with me!